Nehemiah 4:7

7 And it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobijah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being repaired, that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

Nehemiah 4:7 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 4:7

And it came to pass that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the
Arabians
Who were under and influenced by Geshem the Arabian:

and the Ammonites;
over whom Tobiah was governor:

and the Ashdodites;
who were of Ashdod or Azotus, one of the principalities of the Philistines, who were always enemies to the Jews:

heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up;
or "the length of them went up" ^F4; that is, the height of them; that they rose up high apace, and were got up to, or almost to their proper height:

and that the breaches began to be stopped;
for the walls were not all thrown down by the Chaldeans, but breaches made here and there, which were now repaired:

then they were very wroth;
and could not avoid showing it; before they mocked them, as attempting what they could not go through with; but now, perceiving the work went on with great success, they were enraged.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (hkwra htle) "ascendisset longitudo", Montanus; so Coeceius in rad. (Kra) .

Nehemiah 4:7 In-Context

5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee; for they have provoked the builders.

6 But we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to the half thereof; for the people had a mind to work.

7 And it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobijah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being repaired, that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

8 and conspired all of them together to come to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.

9 Then we prayed to our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.